ney to Panchala. They all said, 'So be it.'
Then, O king, Kunti with her sons saluted the Brahmana (in whose house
they had dwelt) and set out for the delightful town of the illustrious
Drupada.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'While the illustrious Pandavas were living disguised
in the abode of the Brahmana, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, once went to
see them. Those chastisers of foes, beholding him coming rose up and
stepped onward to receive him. Saluting him reverentially and worshipping
him also the Pandavas stood in silence with joined hands. Thus worshipped
by them the sage became gratified. He asked them to be seated, and
cheerfully addressing them said, 'Ye slayers of foes, are ye living in
the path of virtue and according to the scriptures? Do ye worship the
Brahmanas? Ye are not, I hope, backward in paying homage unto those that
deserve your homage?' The illustrious Rishi, after this, spoke many words
of virtuous import, and after discoursing upon many topics of great
interest, he said, 'An illustrious Rishi, living in a certain hermitage,
had a daughter of tender waist, fair lips, and fine eye-brows, and
possessing every accomplishment. As a consequence of her own acts (in a
past life) the fair maid became very unfortunate. Though chaste and
beautiful, the damsel obtained not a husband. With a sorrowful heart she
thereupon began to practise ascetic penances with the object of obtaining
a husband. She soon gratified by her severe asceticism the god Sankara
(Mahadeva), who became propitious unto her and said unto that illustrious
damsel, 'Ask thou the boon thou desirest! Blest be thou! I am Sankara
prepared to give thee what thou wilt ask.' Desirous of benefiting
herself, the maid repeatedly said unto the supreme lord, 'O give me, a
husband endued with every accomplishment.' Then Isana (Mahadeva), that
foremost of all speakers, replied unto her, saying, 'O blessed one, thou
shall have five husbands from among the Bharata princes.' Thus told, the
maiden said unto the god who had given her that boon, 'O lord, I desire
to have only one husband through thy grace.' The god then addressed her
again and said these excellent words, 'Thou hast, O girl, said full five
times, 'Give me (a) husband.' Thou shalt, therefore, in another life have
five husbands!' Ye princes of Bharata's line, that damsel of celestial
beauty hath been born in the line of Drupada. The faultless Krishna of
Prishata's line hath been appointed to be the wife o